The City of Santa Monica Housing Authority (SMHA) now has stronger tools to assist tenants with obtaining affordable housing.

Santa Monica rents have increased well above Federal program limits, making rental assistance vouchers noncompetitive in the housing market. In response, the SMHA sought approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to significantly increase the amount paid for housing subsidies – and last week HUD agreed.  Advocating on the SMHA’s behalf were U.S. Congressman Ted Lieu, U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, Santa Monica City Councilmembers, and the Santa Monica Housing Commission.

Read More: http://smmirror.com/articles/News/New-Santa-Monica-Payment-Standard-and-HOUSE-Program/45407

Councilwoman Pam O’Connor is unlikely to face any formal reprimand for her role in the Elizabeth Riel case following Council discussions of the issue at their April 26 meeting.

Read More: http://smdp.com/criticism-but-no-punishment-for-councilwoman-oconnor/154871

Civility. Dialogue. Compromise.

Still possible? I truly hope so. I wrote last week that it was getting pretty ugly out there, and it is.

Santa Monica Next, a pro-development group, ran an “editorial” April 8 (except, to run an editorial you have to be a news organization, not propagandists a la Faux “News”) titled, “The LUVE Initiative is No Way to Run a City.” I’m embarrassed to say they likely lifted that from my column of April 6, where I quoted a neighbor I spoke with, and then countered his argument.

Read More: http://smdp.com/peace-luve-and-understanding-in-santa-monica/154857

Learn the basics of the Rent Control Law.

Read More and register: http://www.smgov.net/uploadedFiles/Departments/Rent_Control/Home/Flyer_Images/2016_Tenant_Seminar_Flyer.pdf

Intensifying its efforts to make Santa Monica a new model for transportation, the City Council on Tuesday voted to reorganize the City's Department of Planning and Community Development to better focus on making the beach city more conducive to walking and less reliant on the car.

The plan reshuffles and adds positions to create a new “Mobility Division” and hires a City Urban Designer and a principle planner, according to a staff report to the Council.

Read More:  http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2016/April-2016/04_27_2016_City_of_Santa_Monica_Reorganizes_to_Help_Create_New_Transportation_Model.html

Proponents of the City Attorney Accountability Initiative said they have been working in “fits and starts” to gather the signatures necessary to qualify their proposal for a November election. The City Clerk has suggested all signatures for all initiatives should be at her office by May 20 in order to facilitate the multi-step approval process.

Read More: http://smdp.com/supporters-of-elected-city-attorney-undeterred-by-challenging-signature-process/154848

Nearly a quarter of all low-income HUD rental buildings in Santa Monica will be at risk in the near future, as federal loans come due and owners decide whether to continue current operations or move to sharply higher market rates, according to a new City report.

Read More:  http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2016/April-2016/04_26_2016_Nearly_a_Quarter_of_All_Low_Income_HUD_Housing_in_Santa_Monica_at_Risk.html

Public attention at the April 26 council meeting will likely center on discussions of the recently released ethics report, but Council has a full agenda in addition to the flagship item.

Council will revisit past decisions on tenant rights, solar energy, and the minimum wage. New business includes business participation for Expo celebrations.

Read More: http://smdp.com/ethics-report-overshadows-busy-city-council-agenda/154832

Anti-development petitions behind the LUVE initiative will be out in force today, in a strong final countdown push to the signature finish line.

Read More: http://smmirror.com/articles/News/LUVE-Petition-in-Final-Countdown-Mode/45391